Follow Us on Google
By Joe Apu
Head coach Moses Aduku has expressed satisfaction with the progress of Nigeria’s U20 women’s team, the Falconets, as preparations continue for their third-round FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Senegal.
According to Aduku, the team’s recent camping period has been productive, with all invited players fully present and responding positively to training. He noted that the technical crew has focused on tactical organization, team cohesion and overall strategy, while the players have shown commitment, discipline and intensity.
The coach said attention remains firmly on the upcoming qualifier, stressing the importance of securing a strong result in the first leg at home. He added that friendly matches have been crucial in assessing and refining the team’s system of play, particularly in improving attacking options while maintaining defensive balance.
Nigeria will host the first leg of the encounter at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on Saturday, 7 February, before travelling to Dakar for the return leg scheduled for Saturday, 14 February.
The Falconets, two-time FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup silver medallists who also reached the semi-finals of the competition in Japan 14 years ago, are expected to move to Ibadan on 27 January to intensify preparations. While avoiding bold predictions, Aduku expressed confidence in the quality and mentality of his players, citing their competitive performances in recent friendly matches.
The winner of the Nigeria versus Senegal fixture will advance to the final round of the qualifiers, where they will face the winner of the Guinea Bissau versus Malawi tie for one of Africa’s four tickets to the tournament.
The 12th edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals will be held in Poland from 5 to 27 September 2026.
